TSPY_GOLROTED.FRD
Windows
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %User Temp%\{malware file name}.exe
- %User Temp%\pchealth.exe
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\pid.txt
- %Application Data%\pidloc.txt --> contains path of copied malware with original name
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
Autostart Technique
This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
pchealth = "%User Temp%\pchealth.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\{malware name}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\{malware name}\
DEBUG
Download Routine
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):
- www.download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3/static/trustedr/en/authrootseq.txt
- www.download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3/static/trustedr/en/authrootstl.cab
As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- Browser cookies
- POP3, IMAP, HTTPMail, SMTP, FTP Passwords
- System information
It attempts to steal stored email credentials from the following:
- Pidgin Messenger
- Paltalk Messenger
- Miranda Messenger
- Windows Credential Messenger
- Outlook Express
- IncrediMail
- Gmail Notifier
- MSN Messenger
- Yahoo! Mail
- Netscape Mail
- Mozilla Thunderbird
- Windows Mail
- Windows Live Mail
It attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:
- Comodo Dragon
- SRWare Iron Browser
- Apple Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Opera Browser
- SeaMonkey
- Flock Browser
- Chrome SxS
- CoolNovo
Stolen Information
This spyware sends the data it gathers to the following email addresses via SMTP:
- {BLOCKED}esh@finegucci.com.de
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- http://whatismyipaddress.com
NOTES:
The email message it sends contains the following information:
- Operating System Intel Recovery
• PC Name
• Local Time
• Installed Language
• Net Version
• Operating System Platform
• Operating System Version
• Internal IP Address
• External IP Address
• Installed Anti-Virus
• Installed Firewall - {User Name} Recoveries
• Source of Information
• Host Name
• Username
• Password
SOLUTION
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- pchealth = "%User Temp%\pchealth.exe"
- pchealth = "%User Temp%\pchealth.exe"
Step 5
Delete this registry key
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\ESENT\Process\{malware name}
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %Application Data%\pid.txt
- %Application Data%\pidlock.txt
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_GOLROTED.FRD. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_GOLROTED.FRD. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
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